Solid forming quick release bicycle axel

Abstract

The present invention teaches a novel axle apparatus for a driven bicycle hub that when used in conjunction with contemporary hubs eliminates the need for a user to become involved in any way with the cogset or chain. The axle of the apparatus is comprised of three main sub-assemblies: a non-driven side lever and shaft, a non-driven side hub insert and a driven side freewheel insert. The design of the present invention is such that it may be adapted for use with most of the contemporary hubs/freewheels available. The three sub-assemblies act in concert to form a solid axle in a two stage action. The mating action is such that misalignment of the wheel is impossible.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A self aligning driven bicycle axle apparatus, comprising:
 a lever and shaft sub-assembly, said lever and shaft sub-assembly further comprised of;
 a lever connected to a cam, said cam capable of providing lateral motion; 
 a shaft connected to said cam on a first end and having a male thread on the opposite end; 
 
 a first shouldered barrel sub-assembly, said first shouldered barrel sub-assembly further comprised of;
 a shouldered barrel, said shouldered barrel having an inner bore capable of passing said shaft; 
 a bearing fixably attached to a first shoulder on the outer surface of said of said shouldered barrel; 
 a spring fitting about a second shoulder on said outer surface of said shouldered barrel, and; 
 a pin passing through said shouldered barrel and said shaft so as to capture said spring; 
 
 a male spline sub-assembly, said male spline sub-assembly further comprised of;
 a spline body; 
 a bearing fixably located about the outer surface of said spline body, and; 
 a set of male spline teeth such that the inner circumference of said spline body slides over said first shouldered barrel sub-assembly, and; 
 
 a freewheel sub-assembly, said freewheel sub-assembly further comprised of;
 a freewheel body, said freewheel body having an inner circumference capable of passing a second shouldered barrel; 
 a pair of bearings fixably attached to the inner surface of said freewheel body; 
 a set of female spline teeth sized to mate with said male spline teeth, said female spline teeth fixably attached to the inner surface of said freewheel body; 
 a second shouldered barrel; 
 a pair of star washers, and 
 a nut such that when said lever and shaft sub-assembly, said first shouldered barrel sub-assembly, said male spline sub-assembly and said freewheel sub-assembly are concentrically located within the inner circumference of a bicycle hub a lateral compression force is exerted which creates a solid axle. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The freewheel sub-assembly of  claim 1  where the set of male spline teeth and female spline teeth each have ten teeth. 
     
     
       3. The lever and shaft sub-assembly of  claim 1  wherein the shaft is made from tempered steel. 
     
     
       4. The first shouldered barrel, the second shouldered barrel and the spline body of  claim 1  wherein each is made from aluminum. 
     
     
       5. A self aligning driven bicycle axle apparatus, comprising:
 a lever and shaft sub-assembly, said lever and shaft sub-assembly further comprised of;
 a lever connected to a cam, said cam capable of providing lateral motion; 
 a shaft connected to said cam on a first end and having a male thread on the opposite end; 
 
 a first shouldered barrel sub-assembly, said first shouldered barrel sub-assembly further comprised of;
 a shouldered barrel, said shouldered barrel having an inner bore capable of passing said shaft; 
 a bearing fixably attached to a first shoulder on the outer surface of said of said shouldered barrel; 
 a spring fitting about a second shoulder on said outer surface of said shouldered barrel, and; 
 a pin passing through said shouldered barrel and said shaft so as to capture said spring; 
 
 a male spline sub-assembly, said male spline sub-assembly further comprised of;
 a spline body; 
 a bearing fixably located about the outer surface of said spline body, and; 
 a set of male pins, said male pins having tapered ends, such that the inner circumference of said spline body slides over said first shouldered barrel sub-assembly, and; 
 
 a freewheel sub-assembly, said freewheel sub-assembly further comprised of;
 a freewheel body, said freewheel body having an inner circumference capable of passing a second shouldered barrel; 
 pair of bearings fixably attached to the inner surface of said freewheel body; 
 a set of female holes sized to mate with said male pins, said female holes formed within the inner surface of said freewheel body; 
 a second shouldered barrel; 
 a pair of star washers, and 
 a nut such that when said lever and shaft sub-assembly, said first shouldered barrel sub-assembly, said male spline sub-assembly and said freewheel sub-assembly are concentrically located within the inner circumference of a bicycle hub a lateral compression force is exerted which creates a solid axle. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The freewheel sub-assembly of  claim 5  where the set of male pins and female holes each have ten pins and holes. 
     
     
       7. The set of male pins in  claim 5  wherein the pins are made from hardened steel. 
     
     
       8. The lever and shaft sub-assembly of  claim 5  wherein the shaft is made from tempered steel. 
     
     
       9. The first shouldered barrel, the second shouldered barrel and the spline body of  claim 5  wherein each is made from aluminum.